Man found at Pudding Creek Beach identified

On Friday, Jan. 11 at 11:59 a.m., a deputy from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Pudding Creek Beach in regards to the discovery of a deceased male.

"Upon arrival the deputy was contacted by the parents of the decedent who was identified as being Joshua Micah Greenwalt, 41, a Fort Bragg resident," the Sheriff's Office reported Saturday afternoon

"The deputy learned Greenwalt's parents had responded to Pudding Creek Beach earlier in the morning in an attempt to locate Greenwalt after he was discovered not to be at his residence. Greenwalt often frequented the beach," the report said.

"Upon arriving at the beach, Greenwalt's parents found his deceased body in a shallow portion of Pudding Creek," just east of the trestle.

"The Sheriff's Office is conducting a coroner's investigation into the cause and manner of Greenwalt's death," the report said.

"An autopsy has been scheduled for the week of Jan. 14, to include a blood alcohol and toxicology analysis."

Sheriff's Lt. Greg VanPatten said Tuesday that the toxicology report may take four to six weeks and a cause of death has not yet been determined.